While the Pastor is Gone…

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence so I could return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God’s house.”  Nehemiah 13:6,7 HCSB

One of the more challenging times of my pastoral ministry was when I took a short sabbatical. During that time, some well meaning individuals thought the church needed a new direction and focus. I returned to the church on Monday, September 11, 2001. On this challenging day the World Trade Center had been attacked and everyone was wondering, “what is going on?” That was the same question I had when I returned to my church.

After rebuilding the walls and facing all the challenges and threats that came his way, Nehemiah had to return to Babylon. We don’t know how long he was gone, but when he was able to return to Jerusalem he had to be asking himself and others the question, “what is going on?!”

Tobiah one of the co-conspirators of the opposition to the rebuilding of the walls was living inside one of the storerooms in the Temple! The Priest in charge of the storerooms was relative to Tobiah. Reminds me of “church-like” intertwining of relationships.

Not only that one of the grandsons of the High Priest was the brother-in-law to Sanballat, the partner to Tobiah in accusing Nehemiah and trying to stop the rebuilding of the walls. So both of the men who lead the opposition to the rebuilding had family ties to the High Priest and were using that to their advantage, and living among God’s people in the Assembly where only Jews were allowed.

Nehemiah also found the people desecrating the Sabbath. We read, “I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day? Didn’t your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!” (Nehemiah 13:17,18 HCSB)

Then Nehemiah found out that some of the Jews were intermarrying with women from foreign nations. He reminded them, Didn’t King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this?…He was loved by his God and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin. (Nehemiah 13:26 HCSB) The children of these marriages could not speak Hebrew, so it threatened the heritage of future generations.

In each of these situations Nehemiah took decisive action to correct the wrongs. In doing so, he reminded the people of the importance of the Law of Moses and learning from the failures and disobedience of past generations. After addressing each of these challenges we see Nehemiah’s prayer to the Lord, asking for His favor and strength.

As a leader Nehemiah realized that he could not allow this “new pattern” that was developing among God’s people to continue. He was bold and decisive, even when confronting the “family ties” of the High Priest. He was committed to God’s ways and to not allow the patterns from the past to persist in the present.

Those types of actions for a leader are not easy and at times it is easier to leave, “well enough alone.” But Nehemiah realized that the task of rebuilding the wall was just the physical restoration of Jerusalem; the stability of the future depended upon the rebuilding of a commitment to the ways of the Lord in the hearts of God’s people.

Prayer for Today… “Lord, thank you for principled leaders who are willing to “take a stand.” To do what is right, even if it is not popular or creates disruption to what has been accepted as the norm. Strengthen your God-called leaders to be wise, bold and strong in their commitment to your ways.”